Grain-elevator.



T. G. LORENZ-EN.

} GRAIN ELEVATOR.-

APPLICATION FILED 111111.25. 1911.

1,005,049, Patenfied 0013,1911.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

T. O. LORENZEN.

GRAINYELEVATOR.

APPLICATION TILED MAB.25.1911,

1 Patented Oct. 3, 1911.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

T. 0. 11011131123111. GRAIN ELEVATOR.

- AP PLIOATIONFILED MAR. 25.1911. I I 1,005,049, Patented 001.3.1911.

SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W O 1 7 1 1 1 1g May m y Chimney T. G. LORENZEN.

GRAIN ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAP..25. 1911.

1,005,049. Patented 0013.3.1911.

4 SHBETS-SHEET 4.

40 hereinafter THOMAS C. LORENZEN, F UPLAND, NEBRASKA.

I GRAIN-ELEVATOR.

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented 0a. 3, 191 1.

Application filed March 25, 1911; Serial No. 616,846.

- To; all whom may concern:

4 Beit known that L'THOMAS O. LoRENzEN,

:a citizen of the "United States, residingat .UpIand i-n, the county of Franklin'and State 1 of Nebraska, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Grai Elevators, of which the following is-a specification. This invention relates to improvements in grain'eleva'tors and is! particularly directed '1 0,to means whereby the grain-directed from the elevator to a bin will, when the said bin has been filled, deliver the grain to an. overfiow hopper which "automatically closes the chutes from both the back pit andfrom .t-he

Another object of the invention is toprovidenmeanswhereby the overflow ofv grain with-in'thehopper may .be readily returned to the elevator without passing throug'hthe "ZOIP tor dump. p

A still further object ofthe invention i ':'the provision of'means whereby the outlet spout may be easily and quickly positioned within'any number. of bonnets connected g5 ,withf'th'e stationary spouts of any number of abi'ns. 7

:Sti'llfurther.v object ofthe invention is the provision of lips upon the'bonnets of the spouts-leading to the bins the said lips over- 1ying -the hopperof the return or overflow. spout, so that after the saidbin has been filled, "the pivoted outlet spout will automatiically..-communicate with the hopper ofthe I' overflow "spout without necessitating the loss aoofgrain; 4 l1 withgthe above andother objects in view which willfiappear as the nature of the de- 'scr'; tion progresses, the invention resides in the novel construction and combination of fully described and m'e t -In theaocompanying drawings, there has g "been-illustrated a simple and approved device'constructed in accordance with the presentjinvention, it being understood, however,

' that-the showing therein is merely ill'ustr'a- .tive and that mlnor details of construction within the scope of the"; claims hereinafter appended may be made if desired,

' f In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the same upon \agrain elevator, parts being broken away and other parts being shown in Section. 2 is an end elevation of the same;

*- Fig'. 3 is a top plan viewof thedevi'ce;

4 is a detail perspective view of the bonnet for the bins. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the hopper for the overflow tank. Fig. 6 is a sectional view upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail of the overflow/hopper and the weighted beam connected therewith. Fig. 8 is a slde'elevation partly in section of the turn pike and the passes therethrough.

In the accompanying drawings, the nu meral 1 designates agrain elevator and 2 the working floor of them'ill.

The elevator 1 is of the ordinary construction comprising the-front leg 3, back leg 4, head 5 and boot 6-. Boththe head 5 and boot 6 are provided with transversely arranged-shafts 7 and-8 the same being arranged intermediate of the legs of the device. These shafts 7 and 8 areadapted for.

the reception of suitable sprocket or other wheels upon which is positioned an endless conveyer belt or chain 9. The member 9 is adapted for the reception of a plurality of spaced cupls 10 whereby the grain may be head thereof and delivered through an outlet 11 The boot, as in the ordinary construcchain or cable which velevated from the boot of .the device to the tion ofsuch devices, is positioned a suitable distance below the'working floor-2 and-communicating with the said boot is a chute 12 which serves as a delivery from the back vided with asimilar chute 13, the latter forming a communication between the elevator and the dump. Each of these chutes is normally closedthrough the medium-0f valves 14 and .15, in a manner which will,

presently be set forth.

Secured for rotation upon the outlet 11 is a turn head 16, and pivotally connected with the saidturn-head at its. outer extremity is an outlet spout 1'2; 'The turn-head .16 is pivotally provided with a horizontally extending arm 18, and also pivotally connected with the said turn-head 16 is a'brace member 19,- the latter being connected with the member 18. The outer extremity of the member 18 is provided with a hook 20 and connected with the said hook is a helical spring 21, the lower extremity of which being secured within an e e 22- provided upon the outlet spout 17 y reference to the figures of the drawing it will be noted that the upper end of the outlet'spout 17 is flared or enlarged so that the same may be swung downwardlyto the pos1t1on 1nd1- fpit, The opposite end .of the boot is pro- 25, the latter being positioned directly opposite the upper portion of the. bonnet which I as is engaged-'throu 'h the medium of the resilient element 21 wlth the free end of the spout 17. The pivots 26'of the spout 17 are arranged diametrically opposite each other and it will be noted that the saidspout' is free to swing away from the bonnet 24 con- ,liacting the lip thereof. (See dotted lines,

ll ositioned directly 1 below thedownturned lip 25 of the-bonnet 24. is a hopper 27. This hopper is provided with an offsetspout -28 and the said spout communicates with what I term a receiver 29. The receiver is provided with an outlet tube 30 and the said tube is positioned directly above an overflow hopper'31.

The numeral 32 designates what I term a turn pipe. This pipe has its lower extremity mounted for rotation within a beam 33 and its upper extremity mounted in a collar 34,, provided upon the turn head 16. The beam 33 is preferably connected with the legs of the elevator and the turn pipe 32 is provided with supporting straps 35 and 36 whereby the hopper 27 and the overflow spout 28. is securely connected thereto. The under face of the beam 33 is formed with an indicating boa-rd37 and the said board has its indicating'marks designating the diiierent bins with which the spout 17 is adapted to communicate, as will presently be apparcut. The lower extremity of the pipe 32 is provided with an offset handle 38, and the said handle is formed with a suitable indicating finger 39 which is adapted to register with any of the indicating marks upon the indicating board 37, so that the grain from the spout 17- will be directed to the bin bearing a corresponding mark.

The numeral 40 indicates a sheave wheel which is pivotally connected in any desired manner to the turn pipe 32, and the said pipe is provided with an opening 41 adjacent the said wh el. 40 whereby a cha n or cable 42engaging the said sheave may pass through the pipe 32. One end of this element 42 is connected with the under face of the spout 1'] as at 43 and the lower end of the said flexible element 42 is connected with the ring 44. 'The is of a larger area than the thickness of the pipe 32 and the said ring serves a two-fold purpose, that of limiting the movement of the spout. 17 against the resilient element 21 and-also for retaining-the spout in proper position direct l bove the hopper 27 until all the grain hereto from the elevator is received by the-said hopper.

Secured to t l'1e overflow supporting rod 45. The upper extremity of the said supporting rod is connected with a beam 46, and the said beam is pivotally connected with suitable supports 47 provided between the legs 3 and 4. The beam 46 is adapted for the reception of a weight 48, the'same adapted to compensate for the weight of the hopper 31 to retain the same in. a normal elevated position. a

The valves 14 and 15 are provided with vertically extending members 49 and 50, and

these members are connected through thef medium of a transverse member 51 with the overflow hopper 31. The lower extremity of the hopper 31 is substantially coneshaped as at 52 and the open mouth thereof is normally closed through the medium of a slide valve 53. Positioned directly below the cone-shaped extremity 52 of the hopper 31 and preferably secured to the working floor 3, is a funnel-shaped member 54, the latter having its lower open portion provided with an oflset pipe 55, and the said pipe is adapted to communicate with the front leg 3 directly above. the chute 13 which communicates with the dump.

Briefly stated, the operation of the device is as follows: It is, of course, to be understood that either of the shafts 7 or 8 are provided with means-whereby the endless conveyer is operated, and the grain from either of the chutes 12 or 13 which is fed within the boot of the elevator is gathered up by the cups 10 and delivered to the elevator headandfrom thence through the outlet 11 to the turn-head 16. The grain is, of course, conveyed by the spout 17 to the spout 23 which communicates with the bin. It will be noted by reference to the drawings that the spout is effectively retainedv in proper position within the bonnet 24 of the spout 23 through the medium of the spring 21, andfurthermore that the lip 25 of "the said bonnet overlies the hopper 27.

W' hen the spout 23 is filled the extra or surplus delivery of grain will feed to the hopper 27'. The grain thus delivered is conveyed through the spout 28 and tube 30 to the overflow hopper .31. When 'suflicient grain has been received within the said hopper 31 to overcome the balance of the weight 48, the said hopper will descend, causing the valves 14 and 15 to close the chutes 12 and 13-and thus prevent the entrance of additional grain to the boot of the elevator. The

hopper 31 is a grain from the hopper 31 is allowed, upon operation of the valve 53, to enter the-elelvator above the chutes 12 and 13, and is reaching the boot.

returning the grain to the elevator above consequently raised by the cups 10 before The operator, being aware that the first bin is filled, turns the pipe 32 through the medium of the handle 38 to the next bin, the spout being lowered through the medium of the flexible element 42 and the ring 44 connected therewith and the surplus grain within the spout will be again delivered to the hopper 2"]. 'VVhen the spout is in communication with the proper bonnet, pressure upon the ring 44 is released and the spout 17 will, through the medium of the spring 21, automatically engage with the said bonnet. The hopper 31, being relieved of its pressure, will, through the medium of the weight 48, assume its normal position and consequently raise the valves 14 and 15 to allow additional grain to enter the boot 6 of the elevator. This process is repeated untilv all of the bins are filled and it will be noted that danger of mixing several kinds of grain within a singlebin is thus effectively overcome. Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, is v 1. The combination of a rain elevator, a delivery spout connected wlth the elevator, a spout communicating with the bin, said spout having its outer extremity formed with a bonnet, the upper portion of which being adapted to receive the spout from the elevator, the lower portion of the bonnet being provided, with a depending inclined lip,, and a hopper positioned directly below said li 2. The combination of a grain elevator having inlet valves, an outlet spout connected with the elevator, a grain supply. pipe, said .pipe having its extremity provided with a bonnet adapted to -be contacted by the outlet pipe, the lower extremity of the bonnet being provided with a lip, a hopper-being positioned below said lip, a slidable member communicating with the hopper, and a connection between the sliding member and the inlet valves, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a grain elevator, a pivoted outlet spout for said elevator, inlet chutes for the elevator, valves for said inlet chutes, and means comprising an overflow of grain and means operative thereby for the inlet chutes and to close the valves for said chutes.

4. The combination with a grain elevator, said elevator having its head provided with a rotatable member, of an outlet spout pivotally connected with the said rotatable member, means provided upon the rotatable member for sustaining the spout in one position, an inlet chute for the elevator, a valve for said chute and means comprising an overflow of grain and means actuated thereby to return the grain to the elevator above the inlet openings of theelevatori' 1 5. The combination of a grain ele, having a boot, oppositely arrangedle'gs a head communicating with the legs," an

endless conveyor within the elevator," th'd head of said elevator being formed with outlet member, a turn-head connectedl'with the outlet member, a spout having a flaring end and pivotally connected with the turnhead, means provided upon the turn-head for resiliently supporting the.outlet spout," inlet chutes for the boot of the elevator valves for said chutes, and return pipes connected with the elevator above theinlet? chutes thereof. i s

6, In a device forthe purpose set forthy' ad grain elevator, a pivoted outlet spout for-a sald elevator, automatic means for sustain vf an open position, a return pipe-connepted s with the elevator and, positioned directly below the hopper, a swinging outlet pipe for the elevator, and means comprising an. overflow of grain to cause the surplus of grain. to flow within the hopper to lower the same and the valves connected therewith to close the inlet chutes.

8. In combination of a grain elevator having its outlet provided'with a turn head, an outlet spout pivotally connected with said head, means provided upon theoutlet spout for resiliently forcing the said spout-upwardly, means comprising a bonnet con nected with the bin spouts for limiting the upward movement of the said spout, means for swinging the spout downwardly and out of contact with the bonnet and means for rotating the spout.

9., The combination with a grain elevator and a plurality of grain bins, each of said bins having spouts, of bonnets upon the ends of said spouts, each of said bonnets having their lower portions provided with a lip, a pivoted outlet spoutconnectcd with the elevator, resilient means for forcing the free end of the spout into engagement with the upper ends of one of the bonnets. means for swinging the spout out of engagement with one of the bonnets, means for rotating the spout to allow the same to engage with the bonnet of a second bin, and an indicator for registering the number of bin with \vhiph the spout engages.

10. The combination with a grain elevator provided with front and back legs, of a plu-' rality of receiving bins, each of the said bins having spouts provided ,bonnets, each of the said-bonnets being flared; upwardly to Inunicating with the spout, a'balance receiv- --ing h'opperarranged between the legs of thc f elevator and communicating with the tube a"f,unnelshaped member provided with an outlet pipe arranged ,below the outlet mouth of the said-hop er, the boot of the elevator ."being provide =with chutes, valves connected with the balanced hopper and adapted to close the chutes, andzthe pipe of the funnel-shaped member communicating with oneof the legs of the elevator directly above one oif the chutes;

' 1 1-. The combination witha grain elevator having lfront and back legs, the-boot of the elevator being provided with inlet chutes, of

a sliding valve'for the'chutes, a pipe comnmnicatlng with one of the legs of the elevator {above'one of the inlet chutes, said ,pipe being provided with-a funnel-shapedmouth,- a slidable hopperfihaving a cone shaped lowerportion arranged directly above the funnel-shaped mouth oftma'pipe,

a sliding valve for this hopper, a connection between this hopper and the chute valves, a

head, a support for the'lower portion of the turn pipe, an indicating board secured to the support, a handle having an indicating finger for the turn .pipe, an outlet spout having one of its ends flared and pivotally con-- nected at opposite sides to the turn head, a resilient element connected with the turn head and with the outlet spout for normally f forcing the spout in onedirection, the-said outlet spout adapted toengage the bonnets .of the bin spouts, a hopper positioned directly below the bonnetiengaged by the out let spout, a spout connected with the hopper, means for connect botli the hopper "and spout withthe turn pipe, a tube having an enlarged end positioned directly below the spout, said tube having its free end positioned directly above the slidable'hoppcr, a flexible member connected with the outlet spout, said flexible member. adapted to extend through the hollow turn pipe, and a ring member secured to the endof the flexible member, 'allsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.-

Intestimony whereof I-aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' THOMAS C. LORENZEN.

-Witnesses: CHAS. BRoTHERsnN,

LLOYD P. ZETTLE. 

